40th Year Anniversary Weekend
15th - 17th November 2024

We look forward to seeing you all at our 40th Anniversary Celebrations this weekend!

Please familiarise yourself with the event details below, as there have been several updates to the schedule since we went live.

EVENT DETAILS

Friday, November 15th:

6:00pm Welcome: Kick off the weekend with us as we welcome you and provide an overview of the upcoming events. Enjoy drinks and a casual dinner at King’s in Ohakune. Please make your own dinner booking with Kings for this informal evening.

Saturday, November 16th:

7:00am Breakfast at King's or at your preferred accommodation/café.

After breakfast, join us on your chosen field trip.

8:30am Field trip one: South East Basin Walk

Join Karen Grimwade and Kiri Te Wano on an alpine meander starting at Turoa Base.

We head up into the alpine landscape, travelling via the Turoa Wintergarden then traverse east to the South East Basin; viewing the alpine landscape and sharing a few stories along the way.

At the South East Basin, we pause to see the amazing volcanic features and one of the unique South West Ruapehu alpine flush zones. This is a great time of year to see alpine flowers. If the weather is clear the views of the Maunga and south over the Rangataua lava flow and the Waimarino plain will be outstanding. This trip requires Alpine-appropriate footwear & clothing. Grade 3 walk / Challenging. This trip is weather-dependent.

8:30am Field trip two: Memorial Crash Site Visit

Join the executive board members Allan McKenzie and Paul Green on a walk through low alpine scrub to the beautiful and poignant helicopter crash and memorial site. Grade 2 / Easy but with uneven ground.

3:15pm Whakatau at Kings: Please meet us in front of Kings on Rimu Street by no later than 3:15pm. At 3:30pm we will be welcomed to Kings by Ngati Rangi representatives. We have chosen Tutira mai nga iwi as our waiata, please familiarise yourself with it so you can join us. Click here for a link to the Waiata.

After the Whakatau we will move into Kings for a meet and greet before the formalities begin. Light nibbles will be served for those with a dinner reservation. Don’t forget to bring cash for the annual raffle to raise funds for Project Tongariro members annual Adopt a Hectare donation.

4:00-6:30pm Formalities: Our 40th Anniversary celebrations will commence with past president and lifelong member Paul Green as the MC. The programme will include Mayor Weston Kirton, and Hon Louise Upston. Karen Williams will speak on behalf of the crash victim families, followed by a reflection on our beginning by Bruce Jefferies. Project Tongariro CEO Kiri Te Wano will give a 'Where We Are Now and State of the Nation' address, followed by Damian Coutts from the Department of Conservation who will then share a few words.

6:30pm Dinner & Guest Speaker: Join us for dinner and dessert, with our guest speaker, Les Molloy, presenting between courses.

SUNDAY, November 17th:

7:00am Breakfast: at King's or your preferred accommodation/café.

10:00am Annual General Meeting: Our 40th AGM will commence at 10:00am

11:30am - 1:00pm Tree Planting and BBQ: At 11:30 am, we’ll celebrate this special occasion by planting 300 trees beside the Mangawhero River Walkway. We invite you to join us and plant a tree or two, then we’ll gather for a sausage sizzle and a hot drink.

This marks the conclusion of our 40th anniversary celebrations.